Grab bag game apparatus

ABSTRACT

A game of the grab bag-type characterized by the provision of a timer mechanism operably associated with the bag throat to close the same after a given period of time.

United States Patent Inventors Marvin 1. Glass Chicago; Denise C. Gardner, Evanston; Peter Aleksa, Chicago, 111. Appl. No. 753,426 Filed Aug. 19, 1968 Patented Feb. 23, 1971 Assignee Marvin Glass & Associates GRAB BAG GAME APPARATUS 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl. 273/148, 273/ 1 Int. Cl. A63f 9/00 Field otSearch 273/1,1

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,772,659 12/1956 Tennis 119/5 1.1 1X 3,211,339 10/1965 Piperetal... 119/51.11X 3,256,861 6/1966 Giltner 119/51.1l FOREIGN PATENTS 274,883 1951 Switzerland 273/1 Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner-Paul E. Shapiro Attorneyl-10fgren, Wegner, Allen, Stellman and McCord ABSTRACT: A game of the grab bag-type characterized by the provision of a timer mechanism operably associated with the bag throat to close the same after a given period of time.

onAs sAo GAME ArrAnA'rus BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention This invention relates to toys and games and, more particularly, to a game of the grab bag type.

2. Description of the Prior Art There have been several toys and games of the type where a player is to extract articles from a given area or enclosure in a race against time. The determination of whether or not the extraction of certain articles or the players hand, or the like, has been completed within the given time has frequently been based on visual observation. In other words, whether the players hand was withdrawn from the given area or enclosure before the expiration of the certain time period has frequently been a close judgment question. The need has arisen for a game of the type in which the player is to extract articles from a given area in a race against time wherein, upon the expiration of the time period, physical means are actuated to block the area or restrict the players hand movement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION drawstring. After a preset period of time elapses, the timer ac-- tuates a throw mechanism which pulls the drawstring and closes the bag throat, thereby preventing access to the interior of the bag and physically restaining the limb or hand or any player which may be positioned in the interior of the bag at the expiration of the time period.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the grab bag game of this invention showing the related implements used therewith;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of the bag apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FiG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along the lines 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FlG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 2.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail, a specific embodiment therefor, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIG. 1 there is shown a grab bag game including the bag apparatus 12, a spinner 14 having the usual pivoted arrow Ma and number zones 14b; cards l6 bearing article indicia thereon, and articles 18 corresponding to indicia bearing card 116. The object of the game with which the apparatus of this invention is intended to be used is for one player to be the first to collect articles corresponding to cards dealt to him.

To play the game, each player is given a plurality of cards 16, preferably six, which are laid face up in front of him and then all articles, such as 18, are placed in the interior of the apparatus H2. The first player spins the arrow 14a of spinner 14 and turns timer knob 20 on the exterior of the bag to set the timer apparatus 22. The player then opens the throat area 24a of the fabriclike bag 24;, of a suitable fabriclike material, such as canvas or the like. Following this, the player takes out the number of articles designated by the spinner one at a time until the timer mechanism 22 is actuated to close the throat 26 fed through several openings 28 in the throat 24a of bag 24 and connected to throw element 30 of timer mechanism 22 at 32.

Preferably, the bag apparatus 12 includes a substantially rigid canlike structure 34, such as generally in the shape and of the material of a coffee can, which is positioned to the interior of the fabriclike bag 24. The throat area 244 of bag 24 extends above the open end 340 of can 34, and, in combination with the open end 34a, provides a means for gaining access to the interior 36 of apparatus 12, while also providing a closure means for the open end of can 34. Can 34 is preferably provided with suitable supporting bracket structure 38 near one side thereof for supporting timer mechanism 22.

Timer mechanism 22 includes a generally C-shaped frame 40 secured to bracket 38. Frame 40 is enclosed by L-shaped front wall 42. A winding shaft 44 extends through aligned openings in frame 40 and wall 42 (not shown) and is secured to neck 46 of knob 20. Neck 46 resides in an elongated vertical slot 48 formed in can 34a. Winding shaft 44 has connected thereon a spring 50 of the well-known convoluted leaf springtype, the free end of 50a of which is connected to the frame 40.

Gear segment 52 is also fixed to winding shaft 44 and is provided with a toothed segmental periphery 52a. Toothed periphery 52a of segment 42 is intended to mesh in engagement with toothed periphery 54a. of pinion 54, also pivoted to frame 40. Pinion 54a is a reduced stublike projection of gear 56 being fixed for rotation therewith.

Gear 56 has a toothed periphery 56a which meshes with the tooth periphery 58a of stublike pinion 58 pivoted to frame 40 and integrally connected with gear 60. Gear 60 has a toothed periphery 60a in meshing engagement with the toothed periphery 62a of pinion 62, also pivotally mounted in frame 40. Pinion 62 is a stublike projection of, and is fixed for rotation with, a star wheel 64 having a plurality (six) of triangular apexes 640. A tongue 66, preferably made of metal or the like, is pivoted at 68 to frame 40. Tongue 66 has a recess 70 below star 64 and a free end 72. Recess 70 is located relative to apexes 64a of star 64 so as to be repeatedly engaged thereby when star 64 is rotatably driven through the described gear train.

Shaft 44 also bears, in fixed relationship therewith, a straplike throw member 30. As previously mentioned, drawstring 26 is connected at 32 to throw member 30. Drawstring 26 is fed through an opening 74 in rivet 76 mounted in an extension 78 of bracket 38.

As shown in FIG 2, the drawstring 26 and throw 240 are in the fully closed position. When knob 20 is rotated clockwise, the drawstring is relaxed, permitting the throat 24a to be opened to the dotted outline position shown in FIG 2. At the same time, the spring 50 is tightly wound and the gear segment 52 is brought to a position where the teeth 52a mesh in engagement with the teeth 54a of pinion 54. Immediately upon the release of knob 20, spring 50 exerts a force, tending to move the gear 52 in a counterclockwise position through the described gear train, including gears 56, 58, 60 and 62. This causes star 64 to be continually rotated, causing a sharp audible clicking sound as the apexes 64a strike the notch 70 and free end 72 of tongue 66. As the last of the teeth 52a of segment 52 disengage from the teeth 54a of pinion 54, throw member is then free to return to the full outline position shown in FIG. 2 under the strong influence of spring 50. This is accomplished in a rapid manner, resulting in string 26 being drawn downwardly, as seen in FIG. 2, thereby shortening the loop of the string relative to the throat 24a through the several openings 28, and thus closing the throat 24a of bag 24 and preventing access to the interior 36 thereof, and in addition, gripping the hand or wrist of a player which might be within the opening 240 at the moment of expiration of time by the timer mechanism. Movement of the throw member to the full outline position as shown in FIG. 2, or activated position, is limited by a stop member 80 connected to front wall 42 and extending into the path of travel of throw member 30.

This invention provides a game of the type wherein articles are to be extracted from a given area within a finite period of time whereupon the expiration of such period of time, access to the given area is closed. If a player has his hand in the area at such time of closure of access thereto, his hand or wrist will be grasped by the closure of the throat of the bag in a noninjurious manner. On the other hand, if the players hand has been extracted from the area, subsequent access thereto is prevented by the closure of the bag. Thus, judgment decisions as to whether or not the player has removed an article from the area or enclosure before the expiration of the finite time period are eliminated.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, as some modifications may be obvious to those skilled in the art.

We claim:

1. An automatically closable container apparatus for use in a game of the type wherein articles'are to be extracted from a given area in a predetermined period of time, comprising: means defining an enclosure having an access opening therein; closure means for said access opening comprising a fabric member positioned over said access opening; a movable element connected to said fabric member for movement between a relaxed position and an activated position for alternately closing said opening responsive to movement of said movable element to said activated position and permitting opening thereof responsive to movement of said movable element to the relaxed position; a timer mechanism operably connected to said movable element including a time responsive movable throw member connected to said movable element to move the movable element between the relaxed and activated positions; and control means for said timer mechanism for setting the same to a starting position wherein the throw member moves the movable element to a relaxed position and access through said closure is permitted and whereupon the expiration of a predetermined period of time the timer mechanism moves the throw member to move the movable member to the activated position to close the access opening and prevent access to the enclosure.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fabric member has a throat with openings therein and wherein the movable element is a drawstring extending through the openings to close the throat upon pulling tension applied to the drawstring and permit opening of the throat upon relaxation of the application of such tension.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the enclosure includes a generally rigid frame over which the fabric member is positioned.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the drawstring is fed from the throat area of the fabric member through an opening in the frame to connection with the throw member.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the throw member is connected to a shaft engageable with the timer mechanism and normally urged by spring means to an activated position, the shaft and throw member being held in a deactivated position during operation of the timer, whereby expiration of the predetermined time period releases the hold of the timer mechanism on the spring to urge the throw member to the activated position thereby applying pulling tension to the drawstring and closing the access opening of the bag. 

1. An automatically closable container apparatus for use in a game of the type wherein articles are to be extracted from a given area in a predetermined period of time, comprising: means defining an enclosure having an access opening therein; closure means for said access opening comprising a fabric member positioned over said access opening; a movable element connected to said fabric member for movement between a relaxed position and an activated position for alternately closing said opening responsive to movement of said movable element to said activated position and permitting opening thereof responsive to movement of said movable element to the relaxed position; a timer mechanism operably connected to said movable element including a time responsive movable throw member connected to said movable element to move the movable element between the relaxed and activated positions; and control means for said timer mechanism for setting the same to a starting position wherein the throw member moves the movable element to a relaxed position and access through said closure is permitted and whereupon the expiration of a predetermined period of time the timer mechanism moves the throw member to move the movable member to the activated position to close the access opening and prevent access to the enclosure.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fabric member has a throat with openings therein and wherein the movable element is a drawstring extending through the openings to close the throat upon pulling tension applied to the drawstring and permit opening of the throat upon relaxation of the application of such tension.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the enclosure includes a generally rigid frame over which the fabric member is positioned.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the drawstring is fed from the throat area of the fabric member through an opening in the frame to connection with the throw member.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the throw member is connected to a shaft engageable with the timer mechanism and normally urged by spring means to aN activated position, the shaft and throw member being held in a deactivated position during operation of the timer, whereby expiration of the predetermined time period releases the hold of the timer mechanism on the spring to urge the throw member to the activated position thereby applying pulling tension to the drawstring and closing the access opening of the bag. 